Archive for the ‘Surgery’ Category
The Patient Escort After Plastic Surgery
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013Whenever a patient undergoes a surgical procedure required sedation, regional, or general anesthesia, they are required to have a patient escort over the age of 18 to leave the office. This has always been the policy of Yager Esthetics, even before we became a AAAASF Accredited Surgery Center. It is amazing that some patients are annoyed at this rule.
The purpose of the patient escort is to have someone who is not altered by the medications that are given with anesthesia, and are not subject to the physical limitations imposed by the surgery so that they may help you arrive home safely. There should also be someone with you for at least the first 24 hours in case something happens and you are unable to call for help. It is common sense.
Going home in a taxi by yourself is never acceptable. If you pass out in the cab, what happens? If you get out of the cab and fall going into your home or building, who can help you? If you become confused or fall asleep from the anesthetic effects, who knows what might happen.
I know that some people live alone, and feel that it is embarrassing to tell someone they need help getting home from cosmetic surgery. It is a private matter, and not everybody has a person that they trust. If this is the case, ask about hiring a nurse or nurse’s aide to take care of you for the first night. They can pick you up and go home with you. Your safety is definitely worth the minor expense.
Beauty Pageants and Plastic Surgery
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013I was recently interviewed on Levantate on Telemundo to discuss beauty pageant contestants and plastic surgery. Is it ok for them to undergo a procedure to enhance their beauty, or is it cheating? It is an interesting topic to discuss.
No one has a problems with makeup for pageants, even though it can cover flaws and make you appear more beautiful than you actually are. It is accepted as a part of the normal routine. False eyelashes, high heels, and even hair weaves all seem to be ok as well. Even some form shaping undergarments are used.
I think you need to be very careful with cosmetic plastic surgery. While it is available to all, it is a surgery and has risks. It can potentially improve your beauty which may be against contest rules. If not, I think certain operations are more understandable than others.
If you are super slender, but have a small pocket of exercise resistant fat, it may be impossible to safely remove it with diet and exercise. To become anorexic or be forced to keep your body fat at an absurdly unhealthy level may be dangerous to these women. I would much prefer a selective liposuction.
What if a woman is born with a deformed nose, or has an accident resulting in a crooked nose? Should she be barred from competition? How about a cleft lip? The slope becomes very slippery.
My opinion is that if it is allowed by the rules of the pageant, and if it will help a woman in her future career, more power to her. Just be safe and do it for the right reasons.
Diabetes and Plastic Surgery
Monday, November 19th, 2012With November being Diabetes Awareness Month, we felt it would be a good opportunity to talk about the many patients living with diabetes who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery. Diabetes is indeed a serious disease, but it does not necessarily prevent you from improving your appearance.
The first think we do at Yager Esthetics is to take a full history on each patient. The information you give helps me determine your options. Diabetics have a higher risk of certain complications such as infections and delayed wound healing due to the circulatory and glucose problems. What we do know is that taking your medicines and controlling your blood sugar carefully decreases these and other risks.
Assuming you are otherwise a good candidate for plastic surgery, and that your health is not otherwise an issue, we make sure that what you are expecting is realistic and that your motivations are well intentioned. The person who then determines your suitability for surgery is your primary care physician.
I send a letter to your doctor that explains the type of anesthesia and time of the procedure, and he/she let me know if they feel that you are at any increased risk of problems with the proposed surgery. If your testing is normal, and your doctor says it is ok, then you can have cosmetic plastic surgery.
The one thing you should never do is to lie to your plastic surgeon or primary care doctor. It is your health and safety at risk, and no cosmetic procedure is worth it. If you are motivated and honest, we will help you achieve your cosmetic goals safely.
The Debate and Plastic Surgery
Monday, October 29th, 2012Everyone has been getting all excited about the presidential debates this month. Each side is trying to sound better, inspire confidence, which are good things. Unfortunately, they also bend the truth to fit their agendas, and try to make the other side look bad instead of presenting the positive side of themselves.
It struck me that this is similar to the Plastic Surgery community in New York. When patients go on consults, the doctor should be trying to highlight the positives of his practice. Things like being Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the number of years in practice, how many cases similar to yours he has done this year and overall, using Board Certified anesthesiologists and Accredited Surgery Centers. Showing Before and After pictures of his work and educating you on the risks and benefits of the proposed procedures let you know that he has your best interests at heart. That is how we treat patients at Yager Esthetics.
There are other centers, however, that take the negative side. Just like in the debates, I wish there was a Truth Squad to let patients know when they are being misled. Most doctors in cosmetic surgery who are not plastic surgeons will not tell you things that make them look bad. Nobody will say “I am not a Plastic Surgeon” or “I have never done that procedure before.” You have to be a good moderator and ask the right questions.
Please ask the following- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
How long have you been in private practice?
Will you or someone else be performing my surgery?
Will it be done in an Accredited facility?
Will a Board Certified Anesthesiologist be giving my Anesthesia?
How many of my procedure have you done THIS year?
What are the risks and alternatives?
What results can I expect?
Can I see at least 3 before and after pictures that you have done?
If a doctor is bad mouthing another doctor, or you get an uneasy feeling, run away. About this there should be no debate.
BMI and Plastic Surgery
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012There are some patients who seek out plastic surgery as a desperate attempt to look better without having to address the fact that they need to lose weight. While I do not believe that you need to be at your ideal weight for a cosmetic procedure, you do need to be reasonably close to it.
Not everyone wants to be skinny, and in fact the height and weight charts that are out there are often unrealistic and difficult to apply to everyone. Some people are naturally thicker, and look well at higher weights. My general rule of thumb is that if you are within 20lbs of your desired weight, it is reasonable to consider plastic surgery. There are, however, limits.
The BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a quick calculation based upon your height and weight ((weight in pounds / height in inches x height in inches)x 703). In my office, we do not offer surgery if your BMI is over 35. This is due to an increased risk of complications from surgery at this higher number, as well as a less than optimal cosmetic result.
Patients are often disappointed when I tell them to lose weight before plastic surgery. When I explain to them that it is for their own safety and long term cosmetic benefit, some of them realize that I am trying to help. I obviously do not make money by saying no. Unfortunately, some doctors here, and many overseas, do not care about your weight and will do whatever you like if you have the money. I urge you to not let this happen. Please ask them if your weight adds any additional risk, or if losing weight after surgery will alter your result. If they say no, run.